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Defenses Outfoxed The Bucs

Former Bucs wide receivers coach P.J. Fleck weighs in for the first time since leaving the Bucs for Western Michigan University.

The late-season troubles of the Bucs offense had a lot to do with coaching, as in opposing coaches flummoxing the Bucs enough to affect execution, so says former Bucs wide receivers coach P.J. Fleck.

Fleck, who bolted from the Bucs for a head coaching gig at Western Michigan, hit the 98.7 FM sports radio airwaves last night to talk all things Bucs with host Steve Isbitts, one of the voices of “Joe.”

Fleck dismissed the notion that “miscommunication” between Josh Freeman and receivers was a significant problem during the Bucs losing streak.

“I think you just have to give the type of defenses we were facing [credit]. The National Football League has some of the best coaches in the world. And they’re not going to go ahead, once you start to getting around to playing guys again and again, they’re not going to give you the same looks and they’re going to try to create different things that you’re going to be able to see, and show you things that may look like the first time they played you, then the second time it’s completely opposite,” Fleck said.

“Some of the adjustments we were making, but, I just think they did a great job scheming against us like everybody does toward the end of the year. I wouldn’t say it was a ton of miscommunication, in terms of we weren’t on the same page, I just didn’t think we executed as an entire offense at time. That happened to be at the end of the season. Instead of the beginning, it somewhat happened at the end. But I think we were always on the same page. [Mike Sullivan] did a great job preparing the entire offense. That happens in the National Football League sometimes, where the defense gets the best of you.”

Hearing/reading Fleck’s comments, Joe can’t help but sum them up; the Bucs were outcoached during their five-game losing streak.

It happens.

But that’s also why Joe believes it was so important that the New Schiano Order righted the ship against a full and hungry Atlanta Falcons squad, on the road no less. It was proof that the regime has the fortitude and intelligence to bounce back against a familiar, powerful and well-coached foe.

11 Responses to “Defenses Outfoxed The Bucs”

It sounds like he’s suggesting the game plan was weak but he also says “we didn’t execute”. The second I read that I thought back on all those Josh Freeman post game press conferences after he played terrible/inconsistent. Josh’s words always seemed to be “we didn’t execute”…As Bucs fans we all know this team plays well when Freeman plays well and it falls apart when he doesn’t. In other words, Freeman didn’t execute.

“Righted the ship against a hungry Falcons squad.” OMG, the Falcons were playing their starters, but they were not going 100%. Maybe 60% at the most. Turner got all his yards on that TD run. If they were really playing hard, Turner would have gotten more yards and carries.

The Dirty Birds had nothing to play for and the starters were expecting Smith to pull them. Our secondary couldn’t slow anyone down all year and was able to slow down Jones, White and Gonzalez like magic. C’Mon!!

@DaffyBuc – If you think the Falcons went 60%, then you know nothing about football. There was massive focus in Atlanta all week about how the Falcons would be playing to win and needed to build momentum, otherwise why even play the starters? Did you even watch the game? Dumbass

The Falcon’s didn’t tank it.But I don’t think they game planned very hard for the Buc’s.They were probably looking ahead to the playoff’s.Player’s can’t play 60o/o or they’d get hurt and the score would be 65-0.